Demerol

Many different types of substances within our society continue to be large issues when it comes to the matter of addiction. One of the most problematic types along this avenue has been opioid medications, with a more common term for these being painkillers. Of course, these substances are very useful within the medical realm to help people recover from painful conditions and mitigate the pain of terminal conditions. Unfortunately, they also carry a huge risk of addiction and dependence, even when used in the recommended way. There are many different types of painkillers used within our nation and many of them are also problems when it comes to addiction. Some forms are much more potent than others and these often carry a larger risk for addiction and dependence. One very potent and frequently used type of prescription painkiller is Demerol.

Demerol is actually the brand name for a drug called meperidine, which is a narcotic prescription painkiller. It is traditionally prescribed for severe pain, including during labor and childbirth. Although, it is also prescribed for other high pain type conditions, such as severe accidents, heart attacks, and cancer. With the types of severe pain that it is prescribed for, one can likely assume how potent it must be. In fact, because of how powerful this drug is, it is rarely prescribed to people on an outpatient basis. Rather, most people that are given Demerol will receive it while in a hospital setting. Of course, just like many other types of opioid pain medications, It is also frequently sold illicitly on the street. The common street names for Demerol include “Dillies,” “Juice,” “D,” or “Dust.”

The Various Effects of Demerol

Just like other types of pain medications, Demerol affects the central nervous system of the body, which alters the perception of pain. Aside from pain relief, Demerol can also bring about a series of effects that can be considered to be desirable to an individual, such as euphoria, giddiness, pleasure, sense of well-being, and a feeling of relaxation. These other effects are often part of the reason that people use Demerol for reasons outside of its medical purpose. Although, Demerol can also include a series of side effects, like shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, drowsiness, tremors, seizures, impotence, loss of interest in sex, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and much more. Alcohol should be avoided when taking Demerol, as it can worsen the above, as well as bring about its own series of side effects and potentially result in death.

Demerol Abuse and Overdose

The abuse of Demerol can come about in several different ways. It may be that an individual begins to use a larger dose than recommended or take it sooner than their scheduled dose time. There are also many people that may begin to use it in ways other than prescribed. Demerol comes in a few different forms, which includes a pill, oral liquid, and IV. Some people may crush the pill and snort it or dissolve the crushed pill in liquid and inject it. The latter forms of IV Demerol tend to be the most dangerous, as they bring about the most potent high. There can be numerous dangers associated with unconventional IV use, such as infected injection sites and contraction of blood-borne pathogens when sharing needles. Another danger of unconventional Demerol use, especially with IV forms, is that of overdose. When buying Demerol off the street, an individual may not know the right dose to take or might be buying drugs that are cut with something else. They may end up taking far too much or take an impure drug and end up overdosing. Demerol overdose, along with other opioid overdoses, can result in severe consequences and symptoms, such as:

Decreased Heart Rate

Slowed Breathing

Severe Drowsiness

Clammy and Cold Skin

Cyanosis (Blue Lips and Skin)

Unconsciousness

Coma

Demerol overdose can potentially be fatal if the person does not receive emergency medical care. Medical services should be rapidly contacted in the case of an overdose.

Demerol Dependence and Addiction

As was mentioned above, Demerol can be a highly addictive drug and there are many people struggling with it all around the nation. There is a point to be made here regarding the difference between dependence and addiction. Dependence generally refers to the physical side of use, as it is when a person’s body becomes reliant upon a substance. Whereas, addiction is when a person continues to use their substance of choice despite adverse consequences and effects on their life. A person can fall into Demerol dependence quite easily. As a person continues to use Demerol, they can build a tolerance, which requires them to use higher doses to achieve the same effects. Over time, their body becomes used to the substance being in the system and this causes certain functions to be altered as a result. If the person attempts to cease using Demerol, they can begin to experience hellacious withdrawal symptoms as a result of the drug not being in the system. This includes symptoms like:

Fever

Chills

Tremors

Bone and Muscle Aches

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Anxiety

Agitation

Insomnia

Restlessness

Treatment for Demerol Addiction

When it comes to addressing physical dependence to Demerol, one should attend a proper detoxification program. Detox is the process of letting the body expel the substance and readjust to functioning without it. This process can vary in duration for each person, and it can depend on the length and amount of regular use. Some people may think that they can buckle down and detox at home, but this is never advised. There are several reasons behind this, but the largest is the point of safety. Detox can be a very intense process and it is ideal that the person is monitored the entire time. This way, there will be professionals who can rapidly assist with any complications that arise. In addition, many detox centers can give the individual wean down medications to help to ease withdrawal discomfort.

Coming back to the point of Demerol addiction, this can bring about quite severe consequences within a person’s life. A person can develop an addiction to Demerol for a litany of reasons. It could be that they are trying to ease emotional pain or a difficult situation, cope with stress, or mask an underlying mental difficulty. The drug becomes their way to deal with the difficulties and stress of living, which can bring them to become reliant upon it to function. A person struggling with addiction to Demerol can face serious havoc within their life. They can begin to neglect friends and family, lose their job, tear apart their family, and some people even turn to a life of crime in the course of their addiction. This condition can worsen the longer that it continues, which is why a person should seek help as soon as they realize they have an issue. Realistically, addiction can be overcome through proper treatment, as it can address the underlying factors that lead to and contribute to addiction.

Struggling with an addiction to Demerol or any other substance can be extremely difficult, but Best Drug Rehabilitation can help. We help thousands of people to overcome addiction every year and we can do the same for you or your loved one. Our team of experts can help you choose the right addiction treatment program for your unique needs.